Tag Archives: Warner Brothers Home Video

Shout! Factory landed no fewer than four of its releases on this critic’s list of the year’s best new DVDs and Blu-rays for families in 2013. 2014 is still very much in its infancy. And already Shout! Factory has landed one of its new releases as a definite on this critic’s list in the recently released The Red Skelton Show:The Lost Episodes. Now this critic can say that Shout! Factory has landed another potential on that list for this year in the form of Beetlejuice: Seasons Two & Three. Shout! Factory will release this two season set in partnership with Warner Brothers Home Video on March 18th, 2014. Whether one recalls this standout toon from their own childhood or is brand new to the series, Beetlejuice: Seasons Two& Three will impress any viewer. It will impress any viewer first and foremost because of its writing. Another reason that audiences will appreciate this season is its animation. And lastly, one must make note of the set’s packaging. All of these factors together make Beetlejuice: Seasons Two & Three another must see both for kids and kids at heart.

The writing in the second and third seasons of Beetlejuice is central to the success of this new box set. The series’ writers maintained the same writing style established in its first season throughout every episode of Seasons Two and Three. The pop culture spoofs are there. So are the moments in which the writers break down the fourth wall. Even more impressive is that despite the fact that while the episodes take place in the Netherworld, the writers continued to make each episode kid friendly rather straight up spooky. Audiences will love the spoof of Sherlock Holmes in ‘A-Ha.’ And those that are old enough to remember the show will love just as much the spoof of Pee-Wee’s Playhouse in ‘Uncle B.J.’s Roadhouse.’ In this same episode, the writers incorporate that breaking down of the fourth wall. This is a comic element that far too few animation studios use in today’s “cartoons.” Its use in this episode is a prime example of how much hilarity it can add to a cartoon, especially when done right. So while it is wonderfully entertaining on the surface, it serves an even deeper purpose in comparison to the “cartoons” that populate the television spectrum today. It serves as a lesson on how much writing has changed in children’s programming from the 80s and 90s up to where it is today. If anything, one could argue that such an example shows how much writing for today’s mainstream children’s programming has de-evolved. That being the case, it makes this collection of episodes all the more enjoyable.

The pop culture spoofs and breaking down of the fourth wall are both integral parts of the writing in Beetlejuice: Seasons 2 & 3 that are rarely used in today’s mainstream children’s programming. Just as integral to the show’s success in its second and third seasons is the fact that the show’s writers could take a spooky world and craft kid friendly adventures centered in that world. Those adventures made the Netherworld not seem as spooky as it did in the movie on which the animated series is based. The adventures are so kid friendly that they almost make the Netherworld feel like the human world for lack of better wording. One can’t help but wonder if perhaps that approach to writing Lydia and Beetlejuice’s adventures was an inspiration behind the world of Disney Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. at least to some point. That writing works with the show’s animation to make these two seasons just as enjoyable as the series’ first season.

The writing in the second and third seasons of Beetlejuice goes a long way toward making these two seasons just as enjoyable as the series’ first season. In direct relation, the animation (especially that of the Netherworld) makes Seasons Two & Three even more enjoyable. It serves as a companion to the writing and makes the Netherworld that much less spooky for even today’s younger viewers. The colors used in the Netherworld scenes are actually relatively bright. This creates more of a welcoming and upbeat feel to that world. On an even deeper level, so much of today’s children’s programming is crafted by either flash animation or by full on computer generated graphics. Beetlejuice by comparison was, like most real cartoons of its era, created entirely by hand. For those that grew up with this modern hand-drawn classic, seeing that hand-drawn animation is a breath of fresh air among the stale, cookie cutter style excuses for cartoons that are out there today. It’s just one more reason that any true cartoon lover and any original fan of this series will want to pick up this dual-disc set when it hits store shelves next month.

Both the writing and animation in the second and third seasons of Beetlejuice are important to the success of each season. Just as important as the writing and animation in the box set’s upcoming release is its packaging. Because both the second and third seasons were so short, each one received its own disc inside a single standard-sized case. It would have been so easy for Shout! Factory and Warner Home Video to split up the seasons regardless. That seems to be the trend among so many studios today with home releases of their programs. So it’s nice to see that Shout! Factory and WHV didn’t take that route with this release. It presents a certain level of ethics between the two companies. The episode listing for each season is also provided as part of the set’s packaging. Each season’s episode list is included inside the case on one side. There is little left to note of this set, if anything, after noting all of the positives of the packaging. The packaging, together with the animation and writing, combine to make Beetlejuice: Seasons Two and Three yet another certifiable candidate for a spot on this critic’s annual list of the year’s best new DVDs and Blu-rays for kids and families. It will be available in stores and online Tuesday, March 18th and can be pre-ordered direct from the Shout! Factory online store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/product/beetlejuice-seasons-two-three. More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory is available online at http://www.shoutfactory.com and http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Man of Steel was one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2013. However, in the days following its premiere, neither the critics nor the fan boys and girls were overly kind to the movie. Each had their own reason for disliking the movie. Superman is without a doubt the single most iconic name in both the world of comic books and of movies based on comics. The major problem with this new take on Superman’s origin story is its writing. There is much to be said there. Just as problematic with this movie is its new home release. A simple change could have been made with the packaging to make it better. But Warner Home Video didn’t even take that simple step, serving only to shoot itself in the foot so to speak. Man of Steel had its share of problems, obviously. In its defense, it did have at least some positives. One of those positives was the acting on the part of Henry Cavill and Michael Shannon. Also to the movie’s benefit is the collective bonus features included in its home release. The bonus features included in the movie’s home release are extensive to say the least. But there are two that stand out among the others. They will be noted at a later time. That bonus material along with the acting of Cavill and Shannon are the movie’s saving graces. They balance out the whole presentation and make it worth at least one watch by any fan boy or girl of the original boy in blue.

Man of Steel wasn’t a terribly awful movie. It isn’t even one of the worst of the year. But thanks to its writing, it is also not one of the year’s best, either. The writing behind Man of Steel is plagued with problems. The most obvious of those problems lies the unbalanced character development and action elements. Goyer and Snyder spend too much time both developing the movie’s backstory and on the conflict between Superman and General Zod. Viewers didn’t really need as much of an in-depth look at Krypton as they got. Given, it was good ot have a story of how Krypton met is untimely end. But the constant transitions between Clark’s boyhood and his adult life were messy and unnecessary. Rather than setting specific transition points, the story—written by David S. Goyer (The Dark KnightTrilogy, The Blade Trilogy, DaVinci’s Demons) and Zach Snyder (300), jumps back and forth between the present and Clark’s past at will. The obvious attempt here was to fill in the gaps of Clark’s childhood without bogging down the overall story. Goyer and Snyder are to be commended for making the effort. But the end result was in fact that it caused the story to do just what they were attempting to avoid. It’s just one part of what makes the movie’s writing problematic. The movie’s dialogue is another problem with the writing. It gets pretty campy at some points. One of the worst of those moments comes when General Swanwick (Harry Lennix—Ray, The Matrix Revolutions, State of Play) states of Zod and his ship in its first sighting, “Whoever is piloting that ship plans on making a dramatic entrance.” If ever there was a cheesy line, that line is it. It’s a—pardon the term here—John Madden “no duh” type of statement. And it’s just one of many really cheesy lines thrown in throughout a movie that otherwise tries pretty hard to be taken seriously.

The end result of Goyer and Snyder’s writing definitely caused its own share of problems for Man of Steel. Now that the movie has been released to DVD, Blu-ray, and combo packs, it suffers from one more problem. That problem is the movie’s packaging. The discs included in the Blu-ray/DVD/VUDU combo pack were stacked on two spindles. The primary disc containing the movie and primary bonus features was stacked on top of the set’s second disc containing the remaining bonus material. There is nothing between the discs to protect them from one another. The set’s third disc however, is set on its own spindle on the right inside side of the set’s case. Why the people at Warner Home Video did not just include an extra plastic insert on which it could have placed either of the first two discs is questionable to say the least. But it definitely takes away even more from the movie’s overall presentation and hurts the overall product in the long run.

Man of Steel had its share of problems, as one should be able to tell by now. But it wasn’t without its positives, either. The acting on the part of Henry Cavill and Michael Shannon was the most praiseworthy of the movie’s positives. Shannon might not have exactly had the look of Terence Stamp’s Zod. But he more than made up for that with his acting. He is brutal, cold, and calculating. Yet in his own eyes, he doesn’t see himself as a villain. And Shannon (Take Shelter) expertly translated that personality style, too. He made Zod’s character fully believable with his portrayal. In the same vein, Cavill’s brooding nature as he attempts to come to terms with his powers and how he fits in with his world is just as believable. He presents Kal-El as not so much the “god” type of figure but as being just as flawed as a human. Much has been said of how he handles Zod at the end of their final battle. What many people don’t seem to remember is that he shows real emotion at what unfolds. It’s another example of what makes this Superman just as much a sympathetic character as any others previously portrayed on the big screen.

The acting on the part of Cavill and Shannon are collectively Man of Steel’s saving grace. Both men are entirely believable in their roles. Their acting is just one of so many aspects of the movie discussed in depth in the bonus features included in its home release. Just as interesting to note in the bonus features is the fact that the crew went to every measure to make sure the cast was able to do its own stunts. Audiences will see the rigorous workout regimen through which the primary cast members were put in order to be fit enough for that task. To see actors and actresses doing their own stunts in the place of stunt doubles is something very rare in today’s movie industry. For that reason alone, the movie gained a new respect at least by this critic. Of course, it is only one of the extras that makes the movie even more worthy of a watch now that it has been released to DVD and combo pack. The bonus “commentary” included in the second set of special features is the highlight of the movie’s bonus features. It too is something that especially today, viewers don’t see much of, if at all.

The second disc included in the Man of Steel Blu-ray/DVD/VUDU combo pack includes a special second screen commentary that is a bonus feature in every sense of the term. This second screen feature is something that today is typically reserved only for those with tablets, iPhones, etc. Yet here, anyone with a Blu-ray player can watch this bonus hybrid commentary. It includes not just audio commentary, but visual, too. Audiences get to hear and see from the cast and crew while watching the movie. They can even watch the making of the movie all at the same time. It brings everything full circle for viewers whether viewers are seeing the movie for the first time, the fifth or more. It still doesn’t make Man of Steel one of the best movies of the year. But with the movie’s other positives, it makes the movie one of the best home video releases of the year. It is available now in stores and online at http://www.wbshop.com/search.do?query=Man+of+Steel. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Everybody’s favorite “ghost with the most” is back once again. That’s right! Beetlejuice is back again thanks to Shout! Factory and Warner Brothers Home Video. This time, fans of the modern classic cartoon have gotten a special treat as Halloween gets closer, with the new compilation DVD, Beetlejuice: A Halloween Spooktacular. This compilation is another great trip back in time for those that grew up watching this cartoon and for their own kids. Its writing and animation were unlike anything else on TV in the show’s original broadcast. And the same applies today. That writing and animation help make it a good fit for any family Halloween party this year. And for those that are true fans, it’s a good bridge for fans that are waiting to see if Shout! Factory and WHV will release any of the show’s other seasons, the first season and the complete series already having been released this year. Suffice it to say that whether one is a kid or a kid at heart, Beetlejuice: A Halloween Spooktacular is great fun whether for that upcoming Halloween party or just to watch.

Beetlejuice: A Halloween Spooktacular is a great trip down memory lane for those audiences that grew up with the modern classic cartoon series, Beetlejuice. It pulls eight episodes from the show’s original four-season run for a frightful yet fun time for both the kids that grew up with the series and today’s kids. Audiences will love watching Beetlejuice go toe-to-toe with a Boris Karloff style character named Boris to Death in “Ghost to Ghost.” Beetlejuice isn’t the only one that gets the spotlight in this collection of episodes. BJ’s neighbor Jacques wants to become Mr. Neitherworld in “Raging Skull.” But he doesn’t stand a chance without the help of Beetlejuice. Any parent will appreciate the pop culture references both in the episode’s title and within the episode itself. If this isn’t convincing enough, then maybe the inclusion of one of the series’ best episodes, “Laugh of the Party” will help convince fans to check out this compilation. Lydia holds her own Halloween party in this episode as competition to her hated nemesis, Claire Brewster. Being a Halloween party, Beetlejuice is actually able to come as himself. There’s just one problem. He brings some “party animals” to *ahem* liven up the party (ba-dump-bump-bump).These are just a few examples of what makes Beetlejuice: A Halloween Spooktacular so enjoyable for the show’s original audiences and their own kids. There are five more episodes included loaded with family friendly jokes and more that remain unlike anything else on TV today for kids.

The scripts crafted for Beetlejuice made the show unlike anything else on TV in the series’ original run. They continue to make the show unlike anything on television today for young viewers. It’s even unlike the movie on which the series is based. This is really a good thing. It serves as a tribute to the series’ longevity. It isn’t nearly as dark and creepy as its live action horror/comedy brother. It’s been toned down to make it kid friendly. And there is nothing wrong with this at all. Just as the writing made this series more kid friendly, so did the animation. To be more specific, the use of colors helped make it more kid friendly. As subtle as it is, both the Neitherworld scenes and those scenes in Lydia’s home were animated using relatively bright colors. This was a subtle element. But it was an extremely important element at the same time. It made the Neitherworld less scary to young viewers and more like just some funny fantasy world. In the case of Lydia’s home, it helped to offset Lydia’s Goth personality and made her more relatable to viewers.

Keeping in account everything noted, Beetlejuice: A Halloween Spooktacular is a fun time both for today’s young viewers and for those that grew up with the series in its original run on TV. It’s especially valuable for the show’s fans because the release of the entire series box set earlier this year was done strictly through Amazon as opposed to the release of the show’s first season. So until or unless Shout! Factory and WHV release the series’ remaining three seasons, fans have in this compilation at least a taste of the entire series to enjoy. It’s available now in stores and online. Fans can order the single-disc compilation now online direct from Shout! Factory’s online store at http://www.shoutfactory.com/node/218183. More information on this and other releases from Shout! Factory is available online now at http://www.shoutfactory.com and http://www.facebook.com/shoutfactoryofficial. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Tiny Toon Adventures Vol. 4: Looney Links! Is allegedly the final installment of director Steven Spielberg’s hit Fox Kids cartoon franchise. If this is indeed the final installment of the series, then it certainly is not the best way to end things. While most of this set is presented in its entirety, there is one glaring problem with the set. That issue comes in the episode, “Weekday Afternoon Live.” The episode in question actually splices the final minutes of the “Toon TV” in place of the final segment that aired in “Weekday Afternoon Live” in its original broadcast. This is not like Warner Home Video to let such an error occur in its home releases. This critic’s copy of Volume Four is not the only one that has done this either. According to others who have purchased the set, they too have had the same thing happen to them. That one major blunder aside, the remainder of the set will still bring enjoyment to long-time fans of this modern classic cartoon.

This new (and allegedly final) installment of Tiny Toon Adventures offers more than its share of laughs, poking fun at pop culture once again and even some former presidents. This time around, Buster, Babs, and company take another stab at Batman (and director Tim Burton). They also go after one of the biggest censorship groups of the time, the Parents Music Resource Council (PMRC). Only instead of dealing with music, Buster and Babs have to face off certain parties that want to censor cartoons. Long-time fans will recognize the episode “Toon TV.” That’s because it’s quite similar to a previous episode from Season One titled, “Tiny Toons Music Television.” It’s basically more music video spoofs. This time, the Tiny Toons gang goes even further back in time, covering hits from The Coasters, The Contours, and Shirley Ellis and Lincoln Chase. They even cover Tchaikovsky’s famed ‘Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies’ in this episode. Of course, this is just a sample of what audiences can expect from this final collection of episodes. Buster and Babs pay tribute once more to the golden days of animation by trying to save a group of “two-Tone” toons from an evil executive. There is much more to enjoy from this final portion of the show’s final season. But as noted already, the episodes contained in this final series of episodes aren’t entirely that original, thus making it less enjoyable than the series’ first two seasons.

For the seemingly decreased sense of originality in these final episodes of Tiny Toon Adventures and the problematic error created in ‘Weekday Afternoon Live’, there is at least one equally noticeable positive to this set. That positive is an episode the directly addresses the problem of bullying. To be more specific, it presents the situation in which Shirley The Loon is bullied by her classmates at her ballet class. Upon telling Babs about the harassment from her swan classmates, Babs vows to get even with them, which she indeed does. Of course getting even isn’t what people who have been bullied should do. This is by no means the message. But it does in its own way, go after bullies. At the same time, it re-tells the story of The Ugly Duckling. So in essence, it’s actually a doubly enjoyable episode for this.

The one major sequencing problem evident with Tiny Toon Adventures Volume 4: Looney Links! is something that will continue to plague this set unless the people at Warner Home Video make the effort to alleviate this issue. Luckily, it does have its positives as noted already. Looking at this set from the perspective of its packaging, the people charged with assembling this set at least got that right. As with so many multi-disc sets being released now, WHV has released this final installment in a standard single disc case with an insert. The insert included allows for the set’s first disc to be placed in its own spot, thus protecting the disc from scratching and, in turn, preserving the disc (along with the second disc) to be preserved much longer. So it is for that reason, and for the laughs offered throughout this collection, that it is worthy of at least some praise. But the massive error of having the wrong episode spliced into the end of another and the rehashed previous episodes will make any long-time fan of Tiny Toon Adventures take notice that this set is not perfect. It is far from it by chance because of these issues. Despite that, it is still a good addition to the collection of any Tiny Toons Adventures fan. With any luck, Warner Brothers and Warner Home Video will take notice of all the complaints from fans, and re-issue this set as it should be presented.

1.The Artist: While it originally made its debut overseas in 2011, it wasn’t until January 20th of this year that The Artist actually made its nationwide debut in theaters across the U.S. Before then, only the lucky few at the big festivals got to see it. That being the case, it should be considered a 2012 release. So what makes it 2012’s best? So much could be said. At a time when so much of what Hollywood churns out is prequels, sequels, and remakes, this story—distributed by Sony Pictures—went the total opposite. How simple and ingenious is it to make a silent film in a movie of major flash-bang-boom films? Because the movie’s only sound is its music, viewers are forced to watch. And the cast was force to really put on its best possible performance, rather than rely on everything else that most movies use to distract audiences from poor performances. The music is quite enjoyable, too. And of course, the general cinematography is just as impressive. It all combines to make for a movie that any movie lover should see at least once.

2.Mirror, Mirror: Some of you might shake your heads at this pick. But the reality is that this is really a fun and family friendly movie. Both boys and girls will enjoy it as will parents. While young Lily Collins (the daughter of superstar Phil Collins) is billed as the lead star here, it’s the dwarves who are really the story’s stars. Their antics make for more than their share of laughs. Though watching Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer—The Lone Ranger) put under the evil queen’s puppy love spell is pretty funny, too. It’s obvious that this spoof of the classic fairy tale was aimed both at boys and girls. With its mix of wit and charm, it will always be one of the best takes on the old Snow White story.

Courtesy: Disney Studios

3. The Odd Life of Timothy Green: This is another truly enjoyable family movie. The general story is one to which any parent can relate and will enjoy because of that. Though the concept of what happens with Timothy might be a little bit tough to discuss with younger viewers. The beautiful backdrop adds even more warmth to the story. And the cast’s acting makes suspension of disbelief so easy. Sure it’s sappy, emotional, and all that jazz. But that can be forgiven as it’s such an original and heartwarming story.

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox

4. Skyfall: This is where things begin to get a little bit touchy. Skyfall is by far the best Bond flick to come along in a very long time. That’s not to say that the previous two were bad. But this one brought back memories of the old school James Bond that everybody knows. It’s got the gadgets and the humor and none of the melodrama that weighed down the previous two Bond flicks. The only downside to the movie is that it tends to drag in the final act. Other than that, it is a nice return to form for the Bond franchise and gives hope for any future Bond films….that is at least if Christopher Nolan doesn’t get his hands on the franchise.

Courtesy: Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Video

5. The Avengers: The Avengers was a very nice way to cap off the build-up created by Marvel Studios with the recent bevy of comic book based movies. It had great special effects. Its story was simple and solid. And the shooting was equally impressive. Considering all the action going on, audiences weren’t left feeling dizzy to the point of wanting to walk out (or in the case of home release, just turn it off). But like so many ensemble cast movies, it suffered from a common problem. That problem was the movie’s run time. Most of the characters in The Avengers had already been introduced through their own separate movies. So there was no reason to re-introduce them all over again this time. A lot of that extra time could have been spared. Hopefully those involved have learned from that and will present viewers with a shorter movie in the second of the Avengers movies.

Courtesy: Warner Brothers Home Video

6. The Dark Knight Rises: I am just as much a comic book fan as anyone else out there. So it goes without saying that I was excited to see this movie. It did a good job of wrapping up the trilogy. The problem is that it did too much of a good job, as David Goyer and the Nolans tried too hard to cram everything into one movie. Word is that this latest installment of the Batman franchise left many people checking their watches when it was in theaters. It might have been better served to have been split up into at least one more movie because of everything added into the mix. And having what seems to be a lack of commentary on the new home release, fans can only guess what the logic was in cramming so much into one story. Much like The Avengers, the shooting and the special effects were great. So it has that going for it. But the writing was the story’s big problem. Here’s to hoping that whoever takes over the Batman franchise next (whenever it’s re-launched) won’t make the same mistake as Christopher Nolan and company.

Courtesy: 20th Century Fox

7. Prometheus: This semi-prequel to Ridley Scott’s hit Alien franchise was met with mixed reviews. There seemed to be no gray area here. Audiences either loved it or hated it. Truth be told, it worked quite well as both a prequel and as its very own stand-alone movie. Sure the special effects are different from those used in the original movies. But times are different. So viewers should take that into account. And the shooting was just as impressive. While it may not be as memorable as Scott’s previous works, at least audiences can agree that it’s better than the movies in the AvP franchise.

Courtesy: Universal Pictures

8. Les Miserables: This latest reboot of Victor Hugo’s classic story of love and redemption in one of history’s darkest eras is not bad. But it’s not great, either. Audiences who know the stage play will thrill at how director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and his staff of writers paid tribute to the stage play both in its writing and its shooting. At the same time, Hooper tried so hard to pay tribute with his shooting style and the transitions that the whole movie felt dizzying to say the least. The shooting and transitions felt like nothing more than a bunch of cuts from one shot to the next. There was never a total sense of fluidity anywhere in the story. It was almost as if despite staying true to the stage play, the script for this latest big screen adaptation was written by someone with ADHD. Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway did a superior job with their performances. But despite that, odds are that the movie will sadly be remembered more for its flawed shooting and transitions than for its award-worthy performances. Nonetheless, it’s still a good movie for any fan of Les Miserables or for fans of musicals in general to see at least once.

9. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen: Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is without a doubt an original story. It’s next to impossible to find anything like it out there or present. But it suffers greatly from an identity crisis. It doesn’t know whether it wants to be a drama, a romance, or a little bit of both. It’s nice to see the simple message of something as simple as fishing being able to bring the world’s people together peacefully. But it really seemed to let the romance factor get too much involved. As a result, it got bogged down in itself. Had it not had the romance subplot, it might have been better.

Courtesy: Lionsgate

10. Arbitrage: It was once noted that three factors more than any other are the causes of crime. Those factors are: money, power, and sex. Arbitrage has all three of these. It’s an interesting movie. And it definitely wastes no time noting the latter of the trio of factors, as it lets audiences know that Robert Miller (Richard Gere) is having an affair with another woman. And also, Miller’s boss has a very firm talk with him early on letting him know that he knows about the financial inaccuracies that he’s causing. It doesn’t take long to know where this story goes. It’s something of a tried and true story. Add in this critic’s pet peeve of movies, the “whisper scenes” and it makes for a movie that as good as it is it could have been better. For those wondering, the “whisper scene” is exactly as it sounds (bad pun there). The “whisper scene” is one in which actors essentially whisper throughout the scene against overpowering music to make the scene more emotional and powerful. But put against the sudden transition to normal volume scenes (and above normal volume scenes), it becomes rather annoying as one has to constantly change the volume on one’s TV as a result of that. It’ll be interesting to see if it gets the Golden Globe for which it was nominated.

There you have it folks. That is my personalist of the year’s ten best major motion pictures. You are more than welcome to share whether you agree or disagree and what your top 10 list would look like. 2013’s already shaping up to be an interesting year. As the movies start to come out, I’ll have reviews of them, too. To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it or its companion page, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Reviews/381028148587141. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.